WO2012086302A1

WO2012086302A1 - Connector

Info

Publication number: WO2012086302A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/074100
Authority: WO
Inventors: 樋口　孝二; 橋口　徹; 芳紀水澤
Original assignee: 日本航空電子工業株式会社
Priority date: 2010-12-21
Filing date: 2011-10-20
Publication date: 2012-06-28
Also published as: JP5184619B2; US8992245B2; JP2012133978A; US20130260586A1; TW201232950A; TWI467857B

Abstract

A connector is provided with a housing that extends in a front-back direction and a sealing member attached inside said housing. The housing has a rear wall located at the rear end of the housing and an enclosed part that extends in the front-back direction from said rear wall. When manufacturing the housing via a molding process, a mold is used to form a plurality of sealing stoppers around the enclosed part. Each sealing stopper protrudes from the enclosed part in a direction orthogonal to the front-back direction. The housing has a plurality of holes that are formed when the mold is removed from the housing. Each hole runs through the abovementioned rear wall in the front-back direction. The plurality of holes face the plurality of sealing stoppers, respectively, in the front-back direction. The abovementioned sealing member is attached to the enclosed part so as to lie between the rear wall and the sealing stoppers in the front-back direction. The front sides of the holes are covered by said sealing member.

Description

connector

The present invention relates to a connector having a waterproof function.

Generally, a seal member is provided for a connector having a waterproof function. The seal member is sandwiched between the connector housing and the mating connector housing (the mating housing) when the connector is mated with the mating connector, and the gap between the connector housing and the mating connector housing is provided. Block it.

A connector provided with a sealing member as described above is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. As shown in FIG. 11, in the connector of Patent Document 1, a retainer is attached to the fitting portion side of the housing, and a seal member is attached between the rear wall portion of the housing and the retainer. In the connector of Patent Document 1, the forward movement of the seal member is restricted by the retainer.

JP 2004-63179 A

However, it may be difficult to form a connector so that the retainer can be attached. In such a case, a movement restricting structure for restricting the movement of the seal member must be provided in the housing itself.

Conventionally, it has been impossible to provide a movement restricting structure having a simple structure inside a cylindrical housing. When the movement restricting structure is provided, the structure of the mold for molding the housing is complicated and the cost is high.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector having a new structure in which a housing itself has a movement restricting structure for a seal member.

One aspect of the present invention provides a connector including a housing and a seal member attached in the housing. The housing includes a rear wall portion, a plurality of hole portions penetrating the rear wall portion in the front-rear direction, an enclosure portion extending forward from the rear wall portion, and the plurality of hole portions in the front-rear direction. A plurality of seal stoppers provided around the enclosed part in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, the enclosure part extending forward from the rear wall part and in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction, and And an enclosure for enclosing the seal stopper. The seal member is attached to the periphery of the enclosed portion so as to be positioned between the rear wall portion and the seal stopper in the front-rear direction, and closes the plurality of holes.

In the present invention, a plurality of holes are provided in the rear wall portion of the housing, and a seal stopper for restricting the movement of the seal member is formed on the enclosed portion surrounded by the enclosure using these holes. Therefore, according to the present invention, the seal stopper can be formed without increasing the cost. In addition, since the hole is closed by the sealing member, there is no problem in the waterproof structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION By studying the following description of the best mode with reference to the accompanying drawings, the object of the present invention will be understood correctly and the configuration thereof will be more fully understood.

It is a perspective view which shows roughly the system provided with the connector pair by embodiment of this invention as an interface of a storage battery module. It is a perspective view which shows the connector pair used for the system of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a power supply contact of the connector pair of FIG. 2 and its vicinity. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing signal contacts of the connector pair of FIG. 2 and the vicinity thereof. It is a perspective view which shows the receptacle (connector) which comprises one side of the connector pair of FIG. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the receptacle of FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a top view showing the receptacle of FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a front view showing the receptacle of FIG. 5. It is sectional drawing which shows the receptacle of FIG. 8 along the IX-IX line. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a seal stopper and its vicinity in the receptacle of FIG. 5. It is sectional drawing which shows the connector of patent document 1. FIG.

The present invention can be realized in various modifications and various forms. As an example, specific embodiments as shown in the drawings will be described in detail below. The drawings and the embodiments are not intended to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed herein, but to all modifications, equivalents, alternatives made within the scope of the appended claims. It shall be included in the object.

Referring to FIG. 1, a connector pair according to an embodiment of the present invention is used in a system including a storage battery module 1. The connector pair includes a receptacle (connector) 30 attached to the module box 20 that houses the storage battery 10, and a plug 50 attached to the panel 40. The connector pair according to the present embodiment has a waterproof function. The receptacle 30 according to the present embodiment has one of the main features on the waterproof structure.

As can be understood from FIGS. 1 to 4, the receptacle 30 and the plug 50 constituting the connector pair can be fitted and removed from each other along the X direction (front-rear direction). In the following description, the side of the receptacle 30 that mates with the plug 50 (mating connector) is described as the front side, and the opposite side is described as the rear side. Accordingly, for the receptacle 30, the + X direction is the front and the -X direction is the rear. Below, the structure regarding the waterproof function of the receptacle 30 is demonstrated with reference to drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the receptacle 30 according to the present embodiment includes a housing 100 made of an insulator, two power contacts 200 made of metal, two springs 250 made of metal, and an elastic body. An annular seal member 300, a metal C-ring (fixing member) 260, and a relay connector 400 are provided. Each of the power contacts 200 is held by the housing 100 so as to extend forward. The seal member 300 is attached in the housing 100. The receptacle 30 may include a metal ring (for example, an E ring) other than the C ring 260. Further, the receptacle 30 may include a fixture other than the metal ring. However, considering that the size in the X direction is small, it is preferable to provide a metal ring rather than providing other fixtures. Furthermore, considering the performance as a fixture, it is preferable to provide the C ring 260 rather than the E ring.

As understood from FIGS. 6 to 9, the housing 100 includes a rear wall portion 110, an enclosure portion 120 extending forward from the rear wall portion 110, and two contact outer peripheral portions extending further forward from the enclosure portion 120. 140, the relay connector outer peripheral portion 150 positioned between the two contact outer peripheral portions 140, an enclosure portion 160 extending forward from the rear wall portion 110, and a flange 165 formed at the front end of the enclosure portion 160. Yes. The two contact outer peripheral portions 140 cover the two power contacts 200, respectively. The flange 165 is used when the receptacle 30 is attached to the module box 20.

As can be understood from FIGS. 6 and 9, the rear wall portion 110 is formed with two contact holding holes 142 and one relay connector holding hole 152. Each of the contact holding hole 142 and the relay connector holding hole 152 passes through the rear wall portion 110 in the front-rear direction. The contact holding hole 142 is located in the contact outer peripheral portion 140 in the YZ plane. The relay connector holding hole 152 is located in the relay connector outer peripheral portion 150 in the YZ plane.

As shown in FIG. 10, the housing 100 is formed with a plurality of holes 132 penetrating the rear wall 110 in the X direction. The hole 132 has a rectangular shape in the YZ plane. Of the inner surface of the hole 132, the surface close to the center of the housing 100 (for example, the lower surface of the hole 132 in FIG. 10) is flush with the periphery 120p of the enclosed portion 120.

As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of seal stoppers 134 protruding in a direction orthogonal to the X direction (direction toward the enclosure 160) are provided around 120 p of the enclosure 120. The plurality of seal stoppers 134 correspond to the plurality of holes 132, respectively. More specifically, each seal stopper 134 is positioned in front of the corresponding hole 132 when viewed from the rear surface 110 b side of the rear wall 110 of the housing 100. In other words, the plurality of seal stoppers 134 are provided around the surrounding portion 120p in the direction orthogonal to the X direction so as to face the plurality of hole portions 132 in the X direction. In general, when forming a housing using two molds, it is difficult to form a seal stopper for restricting movement of the seal member on an enclosed part surrounded by the enclosed part. On the other hand, by forming the hole 132 as described above, the seal stopper 134 can be provided with a simple structure. Specifically, the hole 132 is a trace of a mold that has been removed to form the seal stopper 134 when the housing 100 is molded. When the two molds are separated along the X direction, a hole 132 is a mark where a portion of the mold forming the rear surface of the seal stopper 134 passes along the X direction.

The front surface of the illustrated seal stopper 134 is oblique to both the X direction and the protruding direction of the seal stopper 134 (for example, the Z direction for the seal stopper 134 in FIG. 10). In other words, the front surface of the seal stopper 134 is a slope that is oblique to the front-rear direction. On the other hand, the rear surface of the seal stopper 134 is a surface orthogonal to the X direction. The seal stopper 134 has a rectangular shape in the YZ plane. As described above, since the hole 132 is a trace of a mold when the seal stopper 134 is molded, the rear surface of the seal stopper 134 has substantially the same size as the hole 132 in the YZ plane.

The rear wall 110 is formed with a plurality of grooves 136 that are recessed rearward from the front surface 110f. As shown in FIG. 10, the plurality of grooves 136 communicate with the plurality of holes 132, respectively. The groove 136 is larger than the hole 132 in a direction orthogonal to the X direction (for example, the Z direction in FIG. 10). The groove 136 in the present embodiment is formed over the entire circumference of the periphery 120p of the enclosure 120.

As understood from FIGS. 9 and 10, the enclosure 160 surrounds the enclosure 120 and the seal stopper 134 in the YZ plane. The flange 165 that is the front end of the enclosure 160 is located behind the contact outer periphery 140 and the relay connector outer periphery 150. In other words, as shown in FIG. 7, the contact outer peripheral portion 140 and the relay connector outer peripheral portion 150 protrude forward from the surrounding portion 160. Further, the contact outer peripheral portion 140 projects forward from the relay connector outer peripheral portion 150.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 9, the power contact 200 is formed with a contact receiving portion 202 that receives the power contact 700 of the plug 50 that is the mating connector. An attached portion 204 is provided at the front end of the contact receiving portion 202. A spring 250 is attached to the attached portion 204.

The power contact 200 includes a held portion 210 held in the contact holding hole 142 and a fixed portion 216 formed on the rear side of the held portion 210.

The held portion 210 has an outer shape corresponding to the contact holding hole 142. The power supply contact 200 is held in the housing 100 by inserting the held portion 210 into the contact holding hole 142 from the front side (that is, along the −X direction in the present embodiment).

The fixed portion 216 is a groove that is recessed toward the center in the radial direction of the power contact 200. The width of the groove (length in the X direction) constituting the fixed portion 216 corresponds to the thickness of the C ring 260. In a state where the held portion 210 is inserted into the contact holding hole 142, the C ring 260 is attached to the fixed portion 216, whereby the power contact 200 is held and fixed to the housing 100.

The seal member 300 is attached to the periphery 120p of the enclosure 120 so as to be positioned between the groove 136 of the rear wall 110 and the seal stopper 134 in the X direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the front end 300 f of the seal member 300 abuts on the rear surface of the seal stopper 134, and the rear end 300 b of the seal member 300 is accommodated in the groove 136. In other words, the seal member 300 is sandwiched between the seal stopper 134 and the groove 136 in the X direction, thereby restricting movement in the X direction. In the present embodiment, the rear end 300b of the seal member 300 is accommodated and held in the groove 136, so that the positional deviation of the seal member 300 is prevented.

The seal member 300 closes the front of the hole 132 in a state where the rear end 300b is accommodated in the groove 136. When the hole 132 is viewed from the rear surface 110b side of the rear wall 110, only the rear end 300b of the seal member 300 is visible. For this reason, the hole 132 does not cause a problem on the waterproof structure.

The attachment of the seal member 300 is performed by inserting the seal member 300 from the front side of the housing 100. As described above, since the front surface of the seal stopper 134 is a slope, the seal member 300 can be inserted relatively easily. On the other hand, since the rear surface of the seal stopper 134 is orthogonal to the X direction, the seal member 300 is not easily detached once the seal member 300 is inserted and attached.

As shown in FIG. 6, the relay connector 400 includes a relay housing 410 and a signal contact 420 connected to the cable and held by the relay housing 410. The relay connector 400 is inserted into the relay connector holding hole 152 from the rear surface 110b side of the rear wall 110 of the housing 100, and is thereby detachably held in the housing 100.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the plug 50 according to the present embodiment includes a housing 600 made of an insulator, two power contacts 700 made of metal, and a relay connector 900. The power contact 700 is connected to the power contact 200 when the plug 50 and the receptacle 30 are fitted. Similarly, the relay connector 900 is connected to the relay connector 400 incorporated in the receptacle 30 when the plug 50 and the receptacle 30 are fitted.

As described with reference to FIG. 7, the contact outer peripheral portion 140 and the like (contact outer peripheral portion 140 and relay connector outer peripheral portion 150) of the receptacle 30 according to the present embodiment protrude from the enclosure portion 160. Accordingly, when the receptacle 30 and the plug 50 are fitted, the housing 600 of the plug 50 is fitted with the contact outer peripheral portion 140 and the like before being fitted with the enclosure 160. That is, in the connector pair according to the present embodiment, first, rough positioning is performed by the contact outer peripheral portion 140 and the like of the receptacle 30. Next, the housing 600 of the plug 50 is inserted into the enclosure 160 for further positioning. Therefore, the sealing by the seal member 300 can be ensured and the fitting operation can be facilitated.

In the above-described embodiment, the groove 136 is provided to hold the rear end 300b of the seal member 300. However, a configuration without the groove 136 is also possible. For example, the groove 136 may be omitted, and a protruding portion inserted into the hole 132 may be provided on the seal member 300. In this case, the protruding portion of the seal member 300 needs to play a role of closing the hole 132. Therefore, the protruding portion of the seal member 300 needs to have a shape corresponding to the hole 132 in the YZ plane. In addition, it is good also as providing both this protrusion part and the above-mentioned groove part 136 instead of providing it alternatively.

The present invention is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-284392 filed with the Japan Patent Office on December 21, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Although the best embodiment of the present invention has been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment can be modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It belongs to the scope of the present invention.

1 Storage Battery Module 10 Storage Battery 20 Module Box 30 Receptacle (Connector)
40 Panel 50 Plug 100 Housing 110 Rear Wall 110f Front 110b Rear 120 Enclosed 120p Perimeter 132 Hole 134 Seal Stopper 136 Groove 140 Contact Perimeter 142 Contact Holding Hole 150 Relay Connector Perimeter 152 Relay Connector Holding Hole 160 Enclosure 165 Flange 200 Power contact 200f Front end 200b Rear end 202 Contact receiving portion 204 Mounted portion 210 Hold portion 216 Fixed portion 250 Spring 260 C ring (fixing tool)
300 Sealing member 300f Front end 300b Rear end 400 Relay connector 410 Relay housing 420 Signal contact 600 Housing 700 Power supply contact 900 Relay connector

Claims

A connector comprising a housing and a seal member mounted in the housing,
The housing includes a rear wall portion, a plurality of hole portions penetrating the rear wall portion in the front-rear direction, an enclosure portion extending forward from the rear wall portion, and the plurality of hole portions in the front-rear direction. A plurality of seal stoppers provided around the enclosure portion in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, the enclosure portion extending forward from the rear wall portion and in a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction, and An enclosure for enclosing the seal stopper;
The said sealing member is the connector which is attached to the said circumference | surroundings of the said enclosure part so that it may be located between the said back wall part and the said seal stopper in the said front-back direction, and has plugged up the said several hole part.
The connector according to claim 1,
The seal stopper is a connector that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction from the periphery of the enclosed portion.
The connector according to claim 1,
On the front surface of the rear wall portion, a groove portion recessed backward is formed so as to communicate with the plurality of hole portions,
The rear end of the seal member is a connector housed in the groove.
The connector according to claim 3, wherein
The groove is a connector formed over the entire circumference of the surrounding portion.
The connector according to claim 3, wherein
The groove is a connector larger than the hole in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction.
The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A power contact held on the housing to extend forward;
The housing is provided with a contact outer periphery that covers the power contact,
The contact outer peripheral part is a connector protruding forward from the enclosed part and the enclosed part.